Method and apparatus for isolation of potentially harmful material

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for isolating potentially harmful medical substances, such as antibiotics, is disclosed. An aqueous composition, such as blackwater, contains potentially harmful medical substances present in dissolved state in bodily waste. The aqueous composition is temporarily stored in a buffer tank and is then transferred in batches to a vaporization unit comprising one or more vaporization chambers for producing a water-reduced waste material containing said potentially harmful medical substances. The waste material is subjected to a destructive treatment, such as a high-temperature incineration process.

1 . A method for isolating potentially harmful medical substances, such as antibiotics, present in dissolved state in bodily waste, said method comprising:
 in at least one buffer tank ( 22 ), receiving an aqueous composition containing potentially harmful medical substances present in dissolved state in bodily waste;   temporarily storing the aqueous composition in the buffer tank ( 22 );   transferring the aqueous composition in batches from the buffer tank ( 22 ) to a vaporization unit ( 24 ) comprising one or more vaporization chambers ( 26 ,  28 );   in said one or more vaporization chambers ( 26 ,  28 ), vaporizing water from the aqueous composition for producing a water-reduced waste material containing said potentially harmful medical substances;   passing the vaporized water through one or more protective structures ( 59 ,  79 ), such as one or more demisters, arranged to prevent aerosols or droplets to pass through;   transferring the waste material from the vaporization unit ( 24 ); and   subjecting the waste material to a destructive treatment, such as a high-temperature incineration process.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, the water content of the aqueous composition is reduced in the vaporization unit ( 24 ) by 30-95%, preferably 50-95% and most preferably by 70-95%. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , further comprising heating said one or more protective structures ( 59 ,  79 ). 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in any of the proceeding claims, further comprising vaporizing additional water from the waste material for producing a further water-reduced waste material. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein:
 said transferring ( 20 ) the waste material from the vaporization unit ( 24 ) comprises transferring the waste material from the vaporization unit ( 24 ) to one or more waste containers ( 32 );   said method further comprising removing and replacing said one or more waste containers ( 32 ) containing said waste material; and   said subjecting the waste material to a destructive treatment comprises subjecting removed waste containers ( 32 ) together with the waste material contained therein to a destructive treatment, such as a high-temperature incineration process.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising vaporizing additional water from the waste material in said waste containers ( 32 ) for producing a further water-reduced waste material. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said vaporizing additional water from the waste material in the waste containers ( 32 ) is performed before removing the waste containers ( 32 ). 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in any of  claims 4  to  7 , further comprising passing the additional water vaporized from the waste material through one or more additional protective structures ( 35 ), such as one or more demisters, arranged to prevent aerosols or droplets to pass through. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising heating said one or more additional protective structures ( 35 ). 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in any of  claims 4  to  9 , wherein the water content of the waste material is further reduced by 10-100%, preferably 30-100%, and most preferably 50-100%. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 5  to  10 , wherein the waste material is transferred ( 20 ) from the vaporization unit ( 24 ) into a plurality of waste containers ( 32 ) in sequence such that while one or more waste containers ( 32 ) are being filled water is being vaporized from waste material present in one or more previously filled waste containers ( 32 ). 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising releasing ( 72 ) water vapor and/or condensed water obtained from the vaporization into a waste water system, such as a public sewage system. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous composition comprises blackwater from one or more toilets ( 12 ) and/or from one or more urinals. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said toilets comprise vacuum toilets ( 12 ). 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said toilets comprise water-flushed toilets ( 12 ). 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising subjecting the aqueous composition to a bacteria reduction ( 40 ). 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said bacteria reduction comprises bacteria reduction by heating. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16  or  17 , wherein said bacteria reduction is performed upstream of the buffer tank ( 22 ). 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in any of  claims 16  to  18 , wherein the aqueous composition comprises blackwater from one or more toilets ( 12 ) and/or from one or more urinals; wherein the blackwater is transferred from said toilets ( 12 ) and/or urinals into associated bacteria reduction containers ( 40 ); and wherein said bacteria reduction is performed in said bacteria reduction containers ( 40 ). 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the blackwater is ejected essentially directly into the bacteria reduction containers ( 40 ) from said toilets ( 12 ) and/or urinals. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the aqueous composition comprises a fragmentized blackwater slurry obtained by fragmentizing blackwater. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising subjecting the blackwater slurry to an additional fragmentation ( 100 ) upstream of the vaporization unit ( 24 ). 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 21  or  22 , further comprising subjecting the blackwater slurry to a chemical treatment ( 104 ) for breaking down cellulose in the blackwater slurry. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous composition is a fragmentized slurry. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising removing solids from the aqueous composition upstream of the vaporization unit ( 24 ). 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for isolating potentially harmful medical substances, such as antibiotics, present in dissolved state in bodily waste, said apparatus comprising:
 at least one buffer tank ( 22 ) which is arranged to receive and temporarily store the aqueous composition;   a vaporization unit ( 24 ) which is arranged to receive the aqueous composition in batches from the buffer tank ( 22 ), said vaporization unit ( 24 ) comprising one or more vaporization chambers ( 26 ,  28 ) arranged to vaporize water from the aqueous composition for producing a water-reduced waste material; and   one or more protective structures ( 59 ,  79 ), such as one or more demisters, which are arranged to prevent aerosols or droplets in the vaporized water to pass through.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the water content of the aqueous composition is reduced in the vaporization unit ( 24 ) by 30-95%, preferably 50-95% and most preferably by 70-95%. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  or  27 , wherein said one or more protective structures ( 59 ,  79 ) comprise one or more heated protective structures. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 26  to  28 , further comprising one or more replaceable waste containers ( 32 ) arranged to receive ( 20 ) the water-reduced waste material from the vaporization unit ( 24 ). 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , further comprising means for vaporizing additional water from the waste material in said one or more waste containers ( 32 ) for producing a further water-reduced waste material. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein said means for vaporizing additional water from the waste material is arranged to further reduce the water content of the waste material by 10-100%, preferably 30-100%, and most preferably 50-100%. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 30  or  31 , further comprising one or more additional protective structures ( 35 ), such as one or more demisters, arranged to prevent aerosols or droplets to pass through, wherein the additional water vaporized from the waste material is passed through said one or more additional protective structures ( 35 ). 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising heating said one or more additional protective structures ( 35 ). 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 26  to  33 , wherein the apparatus is connected to a waste water system, such as a public sewage system, and is arranged to release water vapor and/or condensed water vapor into said waste water system. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 26  to  34 , further comprising bacteria reduction means ( 40 ,  42 ) arranged to subject the aqueous composition to a bacteria reduction. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein said bacteria reduction means ( 40 ,  42 ) is arranged upstream of the buffer tank ( 22 ). 
     
     
         37 . The system as claimed in  claim 36  or  37 , wherein said bacteria reduction means comprises one or more heated ( 42 ) bacteria reduction containers 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 26  to  37 , wherein the aqueous composition comprises blackwater from one or more toilets ( 12 ) and/or one or more urinals. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein said at least one buffer tank ( 22 ) comprises a plurality of buffer tanks each arranged to receive blackwater from one or more toilets ( 12 ) and/or one or more urinals. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 26  to  39 , further comprising fragmentation means ( 52 ) arranged to fragmentize blackwater for producing a fragmentized blackwater slurry and wherein said aqueous composition comprises said fragmentized blackwater slurry. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 40 , further comprising means ( 100 ) for subjecting said blackwater slurry to an additional fragmentation upstream of the vaporization unit ( 24 ). 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 26  to  41 , wherein said aqueous composition is a fragmentized slurry and wherein said apparatus further comprises means ( 104 ) for subjecting the blackwater slurry to a chemical treatment ( 104 ) for breaking down cellulose in the blackwater slurry before it enters the vaporization unit ( 24 ). 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus as claimed in any of  claims 26  to  42 , further comprising means ( 102 ) for removing solids from the aqueous composition upstream of the vaporization unit ( 24 ).